§ 16. Mr. de Freitasasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the expansion of the milk-recording movement has ceased; and what steps he intends to take to remedy this.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI am aware that the rapid expansion of the milk-recording movement during the last 10 years has ceased, at least for the time being. My Department is considering, with the Milk Marketing Board, possible means of encouraging a further expansion in milk recording. These include proposals for the introduction of a simplified and cheaper form of recording to suit the needs of the commercial milk producer.
§ Mr. de FreitasSince it is the aim of the breeders to produce breeds that give more milk and fewer calves, and since these records are good evidence for the breeders to work on, cannot the right hon. Gentleman do something more to expand this recording of milk?
§ Sir T. DugdaleAs a matter of fact, recording it is going very well at the moment. Although only about 25,000 herds are officially recorded they include about a quarter of our dairy cows. They include, to a very great extent, the special cows of the breeding society. The new scheme which I am now trying to introduce is to help the small man who is producing milk commercially in a small way.